Day 7: Rainbow Chip Icing

Today my socks look like Betty Crocker's Rainbow Chip Icing, which is probably one of my favourites and, I can't even lie, the reason I bought the socks in the first place. I bought these last night when I bought my skinny jeans. The socks were only $1.10!

I had a fabulous day while wearing socks displaying my favourite icing!

First thing this morning I thought to myself, what the heck, I'm going to try on those pants that haven't fit me in over a year. Normally, I would not put myself through the shame, discomfort, and hurt feelings of trying something like this. However, I know I've been losing weight because the scale and my baggy pants tell me so. So, I pulled on these jeans and...they fit! As in, the button and zipper do up! And not just that - they are comfortable! The scale has been telling me that I lost 20 pounds, but I really didn't feel it until that moment.

While at school today I got to have lunch with a friend that I haven't spent time with in over a month, and ran into another friend that I also haven't spent time with in a while! It was so nice to catch up with these two ladies, if even for a few minutes.

In my co-op class we had an employer panel and they were talking about different summer employment possibilities. I was excited because The Mustard Seed was there and I thought it would be such an awesome place to do a summer placement. Then my summer placement would be not just about me, but about helping others while learning Human Resources. Amazing!

The last thing I did today before coming home was take one of the boys I nanny to hockey practice. I stayed and watched this time so I could take him home once it was over. Oh my gosh those buildings are cold. I get that because they need to keep the ice cold. That's fine. But why in these places do they have benches that only giants could comfortably sit on with no back support? Who invented this idea? Maybe the tall benches are there to be closer to the heater, but could I at least get a step up? And who wants to sit somewhere with no back support for an hour and 15 minutes? Not me. My last problem with the place is that they do not have free wireless internet. If moms, dads, and nannies have to take the kids there, the least they could do is provide free internet so we can do something other than watch kids skate around in circles! For our sanity...? Pretty please?

Lastly, a message to any men that work at a hockey rink: Please take me on a Zamboni. It's one of my goals in life to ride on one. Help me realize this dream!

I am now off to work on a birthday present for my Stepmom! Hope you are all having a great day!

xo

Day 6: Yellow and Orange Stripes (continued)

It's still Day 6, but I just had to share about my evening. Very blog-worthy!

It is official. I have caved. I have finally, after years of protesting, given in.

I now own skinny jeans.

I got my skinny jeans at Forever XXI (21, for those of us that don't read Roman Numerals easily -- me!) for less than $20. Pretty good deal, I must say. I decided to finally buy some because I just really wanted to wear the adorable boots everyone else wears over top of my jeans. Anyone that knows me knows that I am shoe obsessed. Why not broaden my shoe loving horizons to boots too? Oh, the excitement!

After I joined the world of hipsters and hot girls, I went to Petsmart, which is where all hipster/hot girls go. Right? This is only natural as my little Pekoe de Freako (my dog) will be expecting his usual stocking filled with toys on Christmas day. First of all, if you work at a store and your girlfriend comes to visit while you are still on shift, customers are still your first priority. Walking around hand-in-hand in the store with said girlfriend is not. When a customer is looking extremely lost looking for something specific, I genuinely suggest you offer help instead of - not even kidding - kissing your girlfriend in the main aisle! Seriously? Of all the times to say it...GET A ROOM.

I now move on to my check out experience. After finally finding a suitable toy for a destructive little chihuahua, I made my way to the cash register to pay. The cashier didn't have enough coin for change for my $20 bill. My change was supposed to be $12.66 and all he had was $12.50. I said, "Let me give you the $0.34 and then you can give me $13." To which the man replied, "That doesn't make sense, I have $12.50." Oh dear. Once I explained the basic math to him, we were fine...until he started talking about symbiotic relationships. Here I am buying a tiny little toy for my pint-sized dog and the cashier that can't do math wants to talk about symbiotic relationships?! As if I know what that is?!?!

So I googled it when I got home and I now understand that a symbiotic relationship is when one organism lives on another. Where did my helping him with math get his brain onto a track of thinking about organisms that live on one another?

I will never understand men. Not ever.

Day 6: Yellow and Orange Stripes

Sunshine on my feet in the form of yellow and orange stripes. I figured wearing socks with these colours would have to make my day a good day. So far it's been great, other than a test that I don't care to talk about in depth because I fear I may not have done as well as I had hoped. 

I went shopping today with a couple friends to a store I've never been to before in Marda Loop. It's called Crabapple Clothing Company. If you are looking for a store where you could spend a fortune on adorable (sometimes one-of-a-kind) items, this is the place for you. Think hand-knit scarves, cream-coloured pea coats with feminine, intricate black detailing and gorgeous silk blouses. Seriously, us ladies had to restrain ourselves so we didn't get carried away. This store also has delightful underwear that I was told about last night and just had to have a pair (or two...)! While there, Rebecca and I found these winter ear/head covering things. They are hand-knit and absolutely adorable. They are perfect for keeping your ears warm (in the ridiculous Calgary weather) when your hair is in a ponytail. I scoped it out, had Rebecca try it on for me since her hair was up, and we were both hooked. We both ended up buying it in inverse shades - mine is black with grey accents and hers is grey with black accents. They both have these adorable bows on the side...as a side note, I just typed 'boys' instead of 'bows' and laughed hysterically. 

So that was my adventure today. I feel that I deserved a little present after the test I wrote so I treated myself to Starbucks, new underwear and an adorable head/ear warmer. Happy Monday to me!!

xo  

Day 5: Stitch

Last night I saw the movie 'How To Train Your Dragon' with some friends. I thought that the Night Fury "Toothless" reminded me of Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, so I decided to wear my Stitch socks today. Plus, they match my pants that I got at Lululemon (for $20!!) perfectly! My Stitch socks were from the Night Market in Vancouver - seriously, I need to go back to that place for more socks for this blog.

I have had a few people now say that they will give me some socks and/or send me some socks and that makes me really excited! I can't wait to start receiving them so I can wear socks I've never worn before and see what happens in my day!

Going back to school as a 'mature' student this year has been a huge life change for me. I had to leave my amazing dog, Pekoe, in BC while I made the trek to live in Calgary. I miss him every single day. Some days more than others. I also had to leave my Mom, Stepdad, brothers, grandparents, aunt and uncle, and many, many friends. It is hard to be away from them all, but I know that there is purpose to me being here and it's something that I needed to do. Plus, in moving here I've become re-acquainted with old friends and made such wonderful new friends!

The student part is difficult though. Now that I'm older I actually care about my grades. Gone are the days that a C+/B- average is alright with me. I now strive for A+, or at least an A, in my classes. It's a lot of work, but extremely rewarding when I succeed. This is probably the most challenging course load I've taken thus far, so it's nice to see that I am doing well (fingers crossed that finals won't hoop me)! I am extremely nervous for next semester though. I have 5 heavy courses, will be working part time, and am just today (when I should be studying) contemplating what aerobic classes I'm going to sign up for. I'm thinking I'll sign up for two classes! Maybe I'm crazy to try and fit all of that in, but I feel that I work best when I am kept busy and have an easier time not procrastinating when I don't have as much open time that I need to fill. Does that even make sense? In plainer English, I thrive on a busy schedule.

There is a certain apprehension I have when looking at next semester's schedule, but an excitement all the same because I know that I can do this. I am a grown up (eek!). I am capable. And I have a solid foundation of people that are encouraging me.

Okay Winter 2011: Bring. It. On.